The government has launched a national consultation on proposed SEND reforms. This is an important opportunity for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND to share their experiences and views.
The consultation is open until Monday, 18th May. We’re keen to make sure the voices of Leeds parent carers are represented, and there are several ways you can take part.
Share your views on the Leeds PCF Padlet
To help us gather feedback from families across the city, we have created a dedicated online Padlet (shared message board) for parent carers.
On this Padlet, you can:
- Share your thoughts on the proposed SEND reforms
- Comment on specific themes or add general feedback
- Post anonymously if you prefer
We have also added useful information, including:
- A Department for Education slide deck explaining the key parts of the reforms
- Direct links to the SEND White Paper and the consultation documents
You will see suggested prompts to help you think about what you might want to share, but you are welcome to comment on any aspect of the consultation that matters to you.
Join an online Leeds PCF information and discussion session
Leeds PCF will also be holding two online sessions for parent carers. These sessions will:
- Explain what the proposed SEND reforms are
- Offer space to discuss what they could mean for families
- Capture feedback and questions from parent carers
The sessions will take place online, via Microsoft Teams on:
How your feedback will be used
Feedback shared on the Padlet and during the online sessions will help shape how Leeds PCF represents local parent carers.
We will use this feedback to:
- Inform our contribution to the Yorkshire and Humber SEND engagement event hosted by the Department for Education and Council for Disabled Children on 14th May in Leeds
- Share key themes and messages through national parent carer forum networks, including the NNPCF
Completing the consultation as an individual
Alongside contributing via Leeds PCF, we strongly encourage parent carers to complete the national consultation themselves if they are able to.
You can:
- Access the consultation here:
https://consult.education.gov.uk/send-strategy-division/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-firs/ - Save your progress and return later. You do not need to answer every question
- Email your views instead if the online survey is not accessible to you:
SENDreform.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk
Further information and support
You may also find these organisations helpful when reading about the reforms: